Hello community, here we have another set of package updates. Welcome to our new development cycle of Manjaro 25.1.0, code-named ‘Anh-Linh’.We will focus on Plasma 6.5 series and will introduce GNOME 49, maybe Cosmic 1.0 (Beta).

Current Promotions

• Get the latest Gaming Laptop by Slimbook powered by Manjaro: Slimbook Manjaro III
• Protect your personal data, keep yourself safe with Surfshark VPN: See current promotion

Recent News

• Manjaro 25.0 Zetar released
• Manjaro Summit public Alpha now available
• As of Linux 5.4.302, the 5.4 series is now EOL (End Of Life). Please install 5.10 LTS (Long Term Support) or 5.15 LTS.
• As of Linux 6.16.12, the 6.16 series is now EOL (End Of Life). Please install 6.17 stable and/or 6.12 LTS (Long Term Support).

Valkey to replace Redis in the [extra] Repository (click for more details) Previous News Finding information easier about Manjaro (click for more details) Notable Package Updates

• Some Kernels got updated
  • linux617 is now marked EOL
• Systemd 258.3
• Cinnamon 6.6
• KDE Frameworks 6.21.0
• Pacman 7.1.0
• WebKitGTK 2.50.4
• perl rebuilds
• Vulkan-SDK 1.4.335.0

Additional Info Python 3.13 info (click for more details) Info about AUR packages (click for more details)

Get our latest daily developer images now from Github: Plasma, GNOME, XFCE. You can get the latest stable releases of Manjaro from CDN77.

Our current supported kernels

• linux54 5.4.302 [EOL]
• linux510 5.10.247
• linux515 5.15.197
• linux61 6.1.159
• linux66 6.6.119
• linux612 6.12.63
• linux617 6.17.13 [EOL]
• linux618 6.18.2
• linux61-rt 6.1.158_rt58
• linux66-rt 6.6.116_rt66
• linux612-rt 6.12.57_rt14
• linux617-rt 6.17.5_rt7

Package Changes (12/18/25 18:52)

• testing core x86_64: 25 new and 22 removed package(s)
• testing extra x86_64: 1258 new and 1254 removed package(s)
• testing multilib x86_64: 11 new and 11 removed package(s)

A list of all changes can be found here.

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by George Whittaker

Linux has always been more than just a kernel, it’s a living, breathing world of innovation, community collaboration, and divergent use cases. As we roll into 2026, the landscape is poised for exciting growth. From continuing evolution of core kernel infrastructure to newfound momentum in areas like gaming, AI-augmented tooling, hardware support and security, the coming year promises both refinement and transformation. Whether you’re a developer, system administrator, gamer, or casual user, here’s what you can expect from the Linux world in 2026.

1. Kernel Evolution: Performance, Security, and AI-Driven Behavior

The Linux kernel remains the beating heart of the OS. In 2026, we’ll likely see:

• New Long-Term Support (LTS) Baselines: With releases like 6.18 already declared LTS and successor branches maturing, distributions will rally around kernels that offer both performance gains and security longevity.

• AI-Driven Infrastructure: Kernel subsystems may start experimenting with machine-learning-informed scheduling, resource management, or dynamic power/performance tuning, not via heavy inference at runtime, but via control-plane advice integrated at build or boot time.

• Security Innovation: Hardware vulnerabilities like VMScape and speculative execution side channels have taught us that kernel mitigations remain crucial. Expect continued work on microarchitecture hardening, pointer tagging, and improved isolation.

The overall trend points to a kernel that is both more performant and more robust, without compromising the modularity that makes Linux adaptable across systems from supercomputers to handhelds.

2. The Desktop Experience: Polished, Consistent, and Accessible

For desktop users, 2026 should bring visible improvements to everyday workflows:

• Wayland Maturity: Wayland adoption continues to solidify across distributions, with fewer fallbacks to legacy X11 backends. Compositors and toolkits will refine scaling, multi-monitor behavior, and screen capture APIs.

• Accessibility Gains: Distros will invest more in accessibility, bringing improved screen reader support, better keyboard navigation, and wide internationalization.

• Distribution Diversity: More polished newcomers and revitalizations of existing distros will continue, especially projects aimed at lowering the barrier to entry for users migrating from Windows or macOS.

The promise here is a Linux desktop that feels friendly without diluting depth for advanced customization.

3. Cloud, Edge, and Server Infrastructure: Linux Everywhere

Linux powers the backbone of the modern server and cloud world. In 2026:

Go to Full Article

Greg Kroah-Hartman announced this alongside 150+ C code vulnerabilities that were addressed.

Official Armbian utility supports over 300 boards with smart image filtering and verified writes.

Linux desktop is often described as fragmented, but with the right perspective, it becomes clear that this description only makes sense if you see Linux as a single, unified product, and expect it act like one. It isn't, and so it doesn't.

The move is part of a government-wide effort to reduce dependency on Microsoft software. The traffic department's move is just the beginning.

There is a new editor which is easier than Nano as well.

OpenShot 3.4 brings 32% faster performance, LUT colour grading, new effects, and on-canvas editing tools. Details on how to get this update inside.

You're reading OpenShot 3.4: New Effects, Better Performance & LUT Support, a blog post from OMG! Ubuntu. Do not reproduce elsewhere without permission.

Welcome to the December 2025 edition of the Linux Foundation Newsletter.

Winter is nearly here, and the Linux Foundation open source ecosystem continues to break new ground. This month, we announced the formation of the Agentic AI Foundation (AAIF), bringing together critical open standards and frameworks - including Model Context Protocol (MCP), AGENTS.md and goose - for next‑gen AI agents under a neutral, community‑driven umbrella. We also saw continued growth in global collaboration, advances in infrastructure and AI tooling, and strategic developments across projects that are shaping the future of open technology. Thank you to all the contributors, maintainers, members, and staff driving this impact forward and have a wonderful holiday season. 

Here are more of this month’s highlights:

• Agentic AI Foundation (AAIF) Launches to Advance Open Standards for AI Agents
  Last week we announced the launch of the AAIF with contributions from Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol (MCP), Block’s goose agent framework, and OpenAI’s AGENTS.md, with membership support from AWS, Google, Microsoft, Bloomberg, Cloudflare, Cisco, and other leading organizations. The move sets the stage for shared standards and tools as agentic AI systems scale across industries.
  • Read more about the launch in Wired, The Verge, and our press release here.  
• New Linux Foundation Research Report: The State of Open Source Japan 2025
  At this year’s Open Source Summit Japan, LF Research released The State of Open Source Japan 2025, with new data highlighting how strategic open source engagement accelerates business value and innovation in Japanese enterprises. The report sheds light on adoption trends, challenges with governance and skills, and opportunities for open collaboration in cloud, AI, and digital transformation initiatives.
  • Read more about the report in Open Source For You and the LF blog here. 
• Mitsubishi Electric Joins as Linux Foundation Gold Member at Open Source Summit Japan 
  Another big announcement out of the Open Source Summit Japan - Mitsubishi Electric Corporation has become a Gold Member of the LF, expanding industry participation in open source development across embedded systems, industrial automation, and next‑gen connectivity.
  • Read more about this announcement in our press release here. 

Also this month:

• The LF announced the launch of the Open Robust Compartmentalization Alliance (ORCA), a first-of-its-kind global coalition to address the growing impact of cyber threats
• openIDL released the first-ever free and open production-ready open insurance data standard
• Automotive Grade Linux introduced the SoDeV Reference Platform
• A new LF study for the Confidential Computing Consortium (CCC)  finds that confidential computing is emerging as a core requirement for secure AI and data collaboration
• The FinOps Foundation announced the launch of FOCUS 1.3 (FinOps Open Cost and Usage Specification) 
• Nokia joined the SONiC Foundation as a Premier Member
• The Xen Project announced the release of Xen 4.21, delivering virtualization enhancements for maintainability, performance, and security to cloud and server workloads
• The AgStack Foundation announced a strategic collaboration to embed OpenAgri’s portfolio of software into AgStack’s digital infrastructure ecosystem

What’s Next?

• Explore the Agentic AI Foundation projects on GitHub and get involved with MCP, goose, and AGENTS.md as they define the future of interoperable AI agents.
• Download the full State of Open Source Japan 2025 report and share insights with your regional or global teams.
• Mark your calendar for KubeCon + CloudNativeCon EU (March 2026, Amsterdam) — registration is now open.

>> Read on for even more news, research, and opportunities from across the Linux Foundation.

Rust-based editor combines fast performance with GUI-style shortcuts that just work.

Here are the operating system choices when you want to use Raspberry Pi in a desktop setup.

Mozilla's new CEO confirms Firefox will become an "AI browser", with opt-out features. The aim is to raise money. But what does this pivot means for users?

You're reading Mozilla’s New CEO Confirms Firefox Will Become an “AI Browser”, a blog post from OMG! Ubuntu. Do not reproduce elsewhere without permission.

by George Whittaker Introduction

Linux has long been known as the operating system of developers and power users, but today it’s far more accessible than ever before. Thanks to user-friendly distributions that prioritize simplicity, stability, and support, even someone who’s never used Linux can get up and running quickly. In this guide, we’ll explore some of the best Linux distributions (distros) for beginners, what sets them apart, and who each one is best suited for.

Whether you’re switching from Windows or macOS, using a PC for the first time, or simply curious about Linux, there’s a distro here that fits your comfort level and workflow.

1. Ubuntu: The Standard for New Users

Why it’s great: Ubuntu is one of the most recognizable Linux distributions, and for good reason. It offers a polished graphical interface, a massive community, and extensive documentation. If you’ve ever wanted a desktop that “just works,” Ubuntu delivers with minimal setup.

Key Features:

• Intuitive GNOME desktop environment

• Regular releases and a Long-Term Support (LTS) version with five years of updates

• Large software repository and excellent hardware support

• Strong community forums and extensive official documentation

Good for: Users completely new to Linux or those switching from Windows or macOS.

Best for: Desktops, laptops, beginners.

2. Linux Mint: Familiar Feel for Former Windows Users

Why it’s great: Linux Mint focuses on a familiar desktop experience. Its Cinnamon edition resembles the classic Windows layout, making the transition easier for users coming from that platform. Mint is stable, fast, and comes with many tools that simplify daily tasks.

Key Features:

• Traditional desktop layout (like Windows)

• Comes bundled with multimedia codecs and essential apps

• Excellent performance on older hardware

• Multiple desktop options (Cinnamon, MATE, Xfce)

Good for: Windows switchers looking for a gentle introduction.

Best for: Desktops, older machines, learners.

3. Zorin OS: A Windows-Like Experience With Style

Why it’s great: Zorin OS is designed with newcomers in mind. It’s polished, modern, and “comfortable” for users who may find traditional Linux desktops intimidating. Its interface can mimic Windows or macOS out of the box, and Zorin includes tools to effortlessly install popular applications.

Key Features:

• Look-and-feel switcher (Windows, macOS styles)

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Proposed legislation would make it illegal to use VPNs for accessing geo-blocked content.

Classic Linux tools are always there, but eBPF is the natural upgrade as it looks directly in the kernel. Once you start using these tools, it’s hard to imagine managing Linux systems without them.

The post LocalSend – Local Network File Sharing Between Linux, Windows and Mac first appeared on Tecmint: Linux Howtos, Tutorials & Guides .

One of the most important uses of a network is for file sharing purposes, and there are multiple ways Linux,

The post LocalSend – Local Network File Sharing Between Linux, Windows and Mac first appeared on Tecmint: Linux Howtos, Tutorials & Guides.

Over the past several years, LF Research has had the privilege of studying open source adoption across regions and industries worldwide. What consistently stands out about Japan is not hesitation, but intentionality. Japanese organizations are thoughtful, exacting, and deeply pragmatic in how they adopt technology, and our latest report, The State of Open Source Japan 2025, shows that this approach is paying off in measurable business value, even as important gaps remain. Last week in Tokyo I had the opportunity to share these findings with the attendees of Open Source Summit Japan, AI_Dev, and Automotive Linux Summit. Here are a few of the highlights for those who couldn’t join us in person. 

A second GIMP 3.2 release candidate (RC) is now available for testing, should you fancy sampling the various changes on course for the upcoming stable release. GIMP 3.2 iterates on the huge GIMP 3.0 release that landed earlier this year, which took more than 7 years to get in to shape. No lengthy gap for GIMP 3.2 or successors as the team switches to an accelerated development cycle. Below I run through what’s changed since GIMP 3.2 RC1. That build, along with the GIMP 3.1.2 & 3.1.4 dev releases, added lots of new features. There are no new features here, as the point […]

You're reading GIMP 3.2 Release Candidate 2 Brings a Glut of Fixes, a blog post from OMG! Ubuntu. Do not reproduce elsewhere without permission.

Snapscope makes it easy to scan any Snap package for security issues.

Over the span of the past 15 years, Ubuntu started several projects. Not all of them are active today. And yet, they live in our memory.